Ok, so I've posted about both yoga and my anxiety before as separate things, but the other day I did a Vinyasa DVD (I'm still definitely a beginner and this was considered an intermediate level), but I thought I would be able to do it because I have a Pilates background and am young and pretty flexible. Well, after about my 10th set of Downward Dog poses my head felt terrible!! For the rest of the night I was exhausted, could hardly keep my eyes open they were so heavy, had a dull headache and felt like I had a sandbag on the top of my head. My anxiety shot through the roof and for the past few days since then I've felt "off" and still more anxious and strange than usual. My question is, did I most likely over do it and try to hard and should I try again going to a studio and having it taught to me properly? Now I'm nervous that I did something and messed myself up or caused some sort of medical problem which is when the anxiety really sucks. Any advice would be great! Thanks so much everyone!!

Originally Posted by Chanel522

Ok, so I've posted about both yoga and my anxiety before as separate things, but the other day I did a Vinyasa DVD (I'm still definitely a beginner and this was considered an intermediate level), but I thought I would be able to do it because I have a Pilates background and am young and pretty flexible. Well, after about my 10th set of Downward Dog poses my head felt terrible!! For the rest of the night I was exhausted, could hardly keep my eyes open they were so heavy, had a dull headache and felt like I had a sandbag on the top of my head. My anxiety shot through the roof and for the past few days since then I've felt "off" and still more anxious and strange than usual. My question is, did I most likely over do it and try to hard and should I try again going to a studio and having it taught to me properly? Now I'm nervous that I did something and messed myself up or caused some sort of medical problem which is when the anxiety really sucks. Any advice would be great! Thanks so much everyone!!

Go to a studio. I once cried during child pose.
The teacher explained that certain pose release emotion.
In addition, it is very easy to insure yourself when doing any poses alone.

Have you tried Kripalu style?
Very users friendly and therapeutic.
Give it a chance.

could it be as simple as you aren't drinking enough water?

I easily get dehydration headaches when getting back into exercise or trying something new.

Wow! That's crazy certain poses can release that much emotion and be so intense. I never knew that. I've never tried the Kripalu, but will look into it. I scheduled to go to a class for beginners in the Ashtanga? Style so I will see what that feels like also. She told me on the phone that their instructors at her studio are never on their mats during class so they can be sure everyone is breathing and moving properly. Hopefully that will help.

As far as drinking water goes...I'm terrible about staying hydrated!!! I probably only had one glass for the whole.day before I practiced which I'm guessing is pretty bad.

It felt like my head was so hot and was going to pop from being upside down so much! Very uncomfortable.

Originally Posted by Chanel522

Wow! That's crazy certain poses can release that much emotion and be so intense. I never knew that. I've never tried the Kripalu, but will look into it. I scheduled to go to a class for beginners in the Ashtanga? Style so I will see what that feels like also. She told me on the phone that their instructors at her studio are never on their mats during class so they can be sure everyone is breathing and moving properly. Hopefully that will help. As far as drinking water goes...I'm terrible about staying hydrated!!! I probably only had one glass for the whole.day before I practiced which I'm guessing is pretty bad. It felt like my head was so hot and was going to pop from being upside down so much! Very uncomfortable.

It sounds like a good place to go.
yoga looks simple but it really is not.
Sun Salutations and Down ward Dogs are challenging to do correctly without proper guidance.
Later on, you can always do familiar poses by yourself once you have mastered them at the studio.

Here is an old article about the perils associated with yoga:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/ar...668470,00.html

Stay away from Bikram or hot yoga.

There are many different varieties of yoga, but overall yoga usually decreases stress and anxiety. Its focus on the breath and stretching and holding poses is a natural stress-reliever. However, the more athletic and strenuous versions of yoga are more strength and endurance oriented and carry more risk of injury (much like any sport). If you are seeking to decrease anxiety, make sure you are in the right class! And previous posters were also correct in that a person shouldn't push themselves beyond what they can comfortably do. It is easy to get carried away in a yoga class where it feels like everyone else is going deeper or further into a pose, but it is not a competition. It won't do you the good it could if you push yourself into stress or injury.

^^ I think I probably just over did it for my first time with that style and DVD. Hopefully the class will be great and I'll learn a lot and enjoy it! I really want to love Yoga and have great benefits come from it so we'll see.

Originally Posted by limom

Go to a studio. I once cried during child pose. The teacher explained that certain pose release emotion.

I'm so glad I'm not the only one - I was in tears after yoga last week. (I felt insane!)

My teacher was very kind and explained that it happens sometimes and it's very normal. It's good to know that some poses actually can release emotion - I don't feel quite so crazy anymore.

I'd be more inclined to think that there could be a medical condition going on here. I don't buy the theory that some poses release emotion, but that's just my opinion.
Could you be anemic or something? Maybe strained something in your neck/back? I would suggest that you go to a medical doctor, so that you can be checked out.

I've been checked out by so many Dr's because of my anxiety issues and they all say I'm perfectly healthy. At some point you have to try to believe them I guess. I'm not anemic, but I do have low blood pressure usually and I'm tall and have long limbs including a ling neck. My husband swears my neck is always out of whack because its so long and skinny...lol!! I think I'm so used to being hyper and stressed that when I push my body to do exercise to relax, it almost has the reverse effect on me. The other day after my massage I felt anxious and off that night. I'm going to try to have them every couple weeks now so that hopefully I can retrain myself that its ok to be calm and feel relaxed.

so funny,because I've cried during yoga too! Not everytime I do it but one particular time, I was so very very relaxed, mind flowing, with that soft music going on, just felt very emotional.

Originally Posted by LOREBUNDE

so funny,because I've cried during yoga too! Not everytime I do it but one particular time, I was so very very relaxed, mind flowing, with that soft music going on, just felt very emotional.

I went through phases of feeling a crying fit come on during yoga. If it was during or shoulderstand (because lights turned down or off) and not too strong of a feeling, I would let myself tear up, but otherwise I would leave and pull myself together because I was afraid I would truly break down and just sob for hours. This was mostly a problem in inversions and sometimes back bends. I think I felt out of control and a lot of body emotions/memories from when I was sexually abused that had been locked inside came to the surface. This has not happened in a long time, though, hopefully because there's not much left.

I think yoga helped with my emotional and spiritual journey to health. (I've also been in psychological counseling the whole time.)

It took me two years to do headstand because of my fears, but now I am starting to learn to do it away from the wall! I am so proud of myself! Once in a while I do tear up in class, but it's a different kind of crying. Now I tear up out of joy and awe at what I've accomplished, and it goes away quickly.

I wish yoga were freely available to all abuse victims. Someday I might try to set up something locally with the non-profit where I go for counseling.

OP - perhaps you've discussed this in your other threads, but are you on medication for anxiety? If not, I really think that you need to look into it. To me, it sounds like your anxiety interferes with your daily living/functioning. That's no way to live. I'm sorry that you are dealing with this, it can't be easy.

I don't take a daily anxiety med. I'm not a fan of medications and try to deal with my anxiety using other methods. Some months are better than others and I do notice a direct correlation between anxiety and hormones. I've been wanting to start up yoga because I've heard that it decreases stress/anxiety and can be beneficial to treat symptoms. I just feel like no matter what I do that is more strenuous when it comes to exercise, the more it backfires.

Originally Posted by Chanel522

I don't take a daily anxiety med. I'm not a fan of medications and try to deal with my anxiety using other methods. Some months are better than others and I do notice a direct correlation between anxiety and hormones. I've been wanting to start up yoga because I've heard that it decreases stress/anxiety and can be beneficial to treat symptoms. I just feel like no matter what I do that is more strenuous when it comes to exercise, the more it backfires.

You should try iyengar yoga. I would suggest that you stay away from vinyasa, ashtanga, power, and bikram/hot yoga. But iyengar yoga is great for people with limitations because the teacher will tailor it for your needs.